V8 Supercars will not race alongside Formula One at the 2011 Singapore Grand Prix as V8 Supercars Australia turns its attention towards another international venue for the 2012 season.
V8 Supercars Australia has been in negotiations with Singapore GP officials all year regarding V8s being drafted in as the primary support act at the event, which sees the F1 cars take to the track under lights, leaving little action on track in daylight hours.
But with several issues proving too difficult to overcome, the Singapore F1 GP not only been left off the 2011 V8 Supercars schedule, but another venue is already being mooted for 2012.
Speedcafe.com.au understands that issues surrounding television and sponsor signage rights make hosting a V8 Supercar event away from the Formula One event in a stand-alone appearance at the new Changi circuit a more attractive option for 2012.
“We came to the decision, due to commercial and logistical reasons, to concentrate on the new permanent circuit at Changi which opens in early 2012 rather than the Grand Prix event in September,” said V8 Supercars Australia CEO Martin Whitaker.
“The close proximity to the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and our objective of trying to accommodate Singapore as a full Championship round made it very difficult for all parties, particularly our teams, to come to an agreement.
“We look forward to including Singapore in the March/April period of 2012. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who assisted us in Singapore, particularly the organising committee and Formula One Management, and would also add what a stunning event the Singapore GP has become.”
While concessions are made for V8 Supercars to race at Albert Park each year in a non-points event, teams are obviously keen on racing for points if the effort is to be made to take the series overseas to Singapore.
With television rights and on-track signage tightly controlled by Formula One Management at all F1 events, V8 Supercars Australia is now looking to the Changi circuit, still under construction, as the home of a potential V8 event in 2012.
The Changi circuit is currently being built on a plot of land to the north of the Changi Singapore Airport and is due to be completed at some time during 2011. A stand-alone V8 event at Changi would allow the Seven Network to control the telecast and for series sponsors like Bigpond and XXXX Gold to display on-track signage. Unlike the events in the Middle East, Singapore would allow alcohol sponsorship and advertising.
CLICK HERE to see the full 2011 V8 Supercars Championship Series schedule.
